PML-N officials have privately spoken of plans for Sharif to wield huge influence in the party from behind the scenes.

He resigned on Friday, after being disqualified from office by the Supreme Court over undeclared assets, cutting short his third stint in power.

His brother Shahbaz is currently chief minister of eastern Punjab province.

He will have to resign and fight a parliamentary by-election before he can take over.

The plan to eventually install Shahbaz has sparked anger among supporters of opposition leader Imran Khan, who has criticised another bout of dynastic politics, a trend with a long history in Pakistan and elsewhere in South Asia.